Letters To The Editor

On July 1, Donald Trump flew to the Theodore Roosevelt Library in a jet gifted to him by the Qatari dictator, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. This is unprecedented. What was typical is that, once at the new library, Donald Trump spoke only about Donald Trump. A few contrasts between the two men: • […]

It will be a consequential summer for energy policy in Santa Barbara County. Currently, you can drill for oil, but you can’t put a solar farm in the same industrial site. That is set to reverse with an oil ordinance to prohibit new oil drilling to be considered in September and a solar ordinance to […]

Thank you, California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild and Attorney General Rob Bonta, for announcing the state’s intent to sue over the Trump administration’s offshore wind lease buybacks. It’s no secret that California needs more electricity. Diablo Canyon will not operate forever. We have a great opportunity to tap a new renewable and clean energy […]

Earlier this month, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a proposed rule that would erect barriers to mail voting. The proposed amendments create unnecessary barriers to voting that could prevent eligible voters from receiving and returning their mail-in and absentee ballots and could disenfranchise eligible voters who are unable to vote in person. Under […]

With only a fast-approaching rattling noise from behind to warn me, I leapt off the trail to my right to avoid being struck by the mountain biker sailing by me. He was first in a group of what would be eight young adult riders who would go by in quick succession, none with warning bells. […]

The recent letter from the Oceano Beach Community Association calling for Oceano Airport to be converted into a vertiport is putting the cart before the horse (“The Oceano Airport needs to evolve,” June 4). Before Oceano abandons another public asset, we should examine the facts. The authors, who have no aviation experience, argue that the […]

No interest in a primary election? Not enough Vote for Me flyers from candidates? Does it take massive advertisements from and about candidates to alert the voters to vote? Are voters unaware unless there is a contest generating ads on radio, TV, or in our mailboxes that there is an election and they should care […]

The recent weeks of quiet, with no roar from dune buggies, brought forth a realization. Living 2 miles from the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, parts of Oceano and the Nipomo Mesa bear an undiscussed, invisible physical toll. When coastal wind carries engine roars into our yards and homes, it does more than disturb […]

There was something terribly morbid and terribly wrong about the report of FBI Director Kash Patel’s VIP snorkeling dive on USS Arizona. It’s yet one more example of this administration’s casual indecency. I take it personally, and this is why. Two sailors who died on the Arizona were from my hometown, Arroyo Grande, population 1,090 […]

Mr. George Hansen makes the stretch that birds died because we use gasoline in our cars (“Dead seabirds are the harbinger of a preventable future,” May 28). A few other things to consider: 1) He may want to discard his wetsuit, flip-flops, and sunglasses, which may also contain petroleum. 2) Elevated seawater temperatures may be […]

Oceano is a community divided—literally—by a land-heavy, low-utility, extremely costly fixed-wing airport: Oceano Airport L52. So, is closure the best option? We think not. We propose modernization over maintenance. It’s an option that will take us past the same tired story of Oceano being abused by wealthier interests with a blind eye to the environment […]

As a senior registered as No Party Preference, I study the issues and listen carefully to debates and radio interviews. I vote for the candidate, not the political party. Mr. Paulding is the clear winner. He was enthusiastic and well prepared at the League of Women Voters debate forum. Mr. Verdin was bored and only […]